Nazarene Kabbalah

Information

This is a list for the discussion of Kabbalah in a Nazarene (Messianic Jewish) context.

“’Kabbalah’ is the traditional and most commonly used term for the esoteric teachings of Judaism and for Jewish mysticism…” - Gershom Scholem; Kabbalah; p. 3

“…one can find within Kabbalism the most profound and Biblically-valid thoughts on everything from the Messiah’s suffering for sin to even a Triune concept of the unity of God.” – Daniel Juster; Jewish Roots; pp. 238-239

“True Kabbalah is a receiving of Divine light, but this is not physical light as we know it. Rather, it is a powerful but invisible light that has the Divine life-force behind it. And when we receive this light into our heart, the darkness is not able to withstand it.” – Avi Ben Mordechai; Messiah Vol. 3 p. 42

I am posting this incomplete list of parallels between the kabbalah and the NT because I think it would be most appropriate for this group. I have had positive comments from two orthodox rabbi's in regards to these parallels. Hope you enjoy

My two shekels on REINCARNATION. Certainly to our modern American (western civilization) ears the word REincarnations sounds scary, evil, and cultish, but at one time the word "passover" evoked the same feelings. At one time Christians believed passover was horrible because it was said that (heaveon forbid) Jews would kill christian children and drink their blood. As christians our perception of passover was distorted due to our Roman views. And many such bibilical concepts were distorted through the Roman lens. When a Jew hears the word reincarnation it does not sound scary or evil because their perception on reincarnation is very different then our western ideas of reincarnation. I think before we attach negativity to the word reincarnation we should study the Jewish version of reincarnation. From all that I have seen so far it in no way violates the Tanak plus it clarifies much of what is being said in the NT.

I find this commical

We believe in and take great joy in the concept of RE-surrection - Departed souls returning to live on earth again.

We reject and despise the concept of RE-incarnation - Departed souls returning to live on earth again.

Neither concept we could point directly to in the Torah. We have to depend on the oral mystical tradition to understand either of these concepts. Who are we to tell the guys who have gaurded the secrets of the kingdom of heaven for thousands of years, what concepts are kosher and what are bunk.

Reincarnation was a normal thought in the early followers of Yeshua. Not talking about gnostics, but those who understood what reincarnation was really about. It is very kabbalistic, and shows how YAH allows correction to happen. No problem here Shawn, I so agree. And on your other post, I feel all the letters in the nt are all kabbalistic, there is no doubt to me.
Mika'el

Hi, as a new believer I have learned that our salvation is not through our own works but Grace of the Creator and of course that is how we can achieve much more easly what would take most Kabbalists lots of effort and meditation. Thanks to James for this forum, I have encountered much resistance in the Messianic Jewish community.

Shalom all, Chris Brody I am sorry I did not understand what your post was trying to say? What could "we" acheive more easily? And what resistance are you talking about?

No kabbalists meditate to "recieve salvation" they know it is a free gift and they do no works at all to obtain it. Meditation to spend time speaking with Hashem is not a work. As a "new believer" consider that it was Yeshuas custom to enter into the garden at midnight every night to meditate for a signifcant amount of time. His "new believing" students didnt care about doing these meditations and went to sleep feeling that they had it "easy". Yeshua was disappointed with this laxidazical "I'm saved who cares about the rest of knowing Hashem" attitude. He really wished his students would have stayed up and meditated with him at the hour of midnight, which by the way is the kabbalistic ceremony known as Tikkun Hatsot - midnight service. The kabbalists do it to this very day Just as Yeshua did. As a "new believer" take a significant amount of time before speaking down on orthodox Judaism, 99 times out of 100 you will find that Yeshua did the very thing you are speaking down on.

Jeremiah Ill try to remember to repost the parallels I have found between the NT and kabbalistic texts. I think it will address your concern about it relating to Yeshua and not just pie in the sky ideas.